NEUROSC 10 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Parallel Computing, Botulism, Connexon
Document Summary
Can either depolarize the cell or it can have a hyperpolarizing effect (inhibitory) Typical ions that are passed include na+, k+, ca2+, cl- It"s a protein on the membrane (that uses intermediate molecules to effect change in the postsynaptic neuron) G-protein subunits or intracellular messengers modulate ion channels. In the absence of neurotransmitter, the ion channel is normally closed. When neurotransmitter binds to extracellular sites on the receptor, it induces a conformational change in the receptor protein that opens the channel to pass ions. The resulting changes in membrane potential is considered. Dendrites use passive conduction to transmit psps to the soma (cell body) and axon initial segment. If the epsp is large enough when it gets to the axon initial segment, an action potential results. Synaptic summation is usually required to generate an action potential. Simultaneous input from multiple synapses sum to generate a larger epsp.
